Heater for internal-combustion-engine intake-manifolds.



R, S. EWERS.

HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 19m.

1 %,125D Patnted 0ct.29,1918.

R0120 S. EWERS, OF HOXIES, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR 01E ONE-HALF 1'0 LINDEN BEAT-TIE, SAS.

Enema non. INTERNAL-GOMB'USTION-ENGINE mr -mhmromos'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Row S. Ewnns, a citizen of the United States, residin at Hoxie, in the county of Sheridan and tate of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters for Internal Combustion Engine Intake Manifolds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heatin attach ments for internal combustion engines, and has for its object to produce means for infallibly insuring the quick starting of the engine, if in proper working order, regardless of the temperature of the engine or of the liquid fuel in the carbureter thereof.

More specificallymy object is to produce means for safely heating the intake manifold to a high'degree in close proximity to the discharge end thereof, for the purpose of insuring the proper vaporization of the liquid fuel drawn from the carbureter through the intake manifold, by the suction roduced by cranking the engine.

A urther object is to produce an intake manifold heater of the character set forth,

which 'is'of simple, strong, durable and cheap construction, and which can be easily and quickly attached to or removed .from position.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and useful featuresof construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and clalmed; and

in order that it may be fully understoodreference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the intake manifold of an internal combus-, tion engine, equipped with a heater embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line TIL-III of Fi l. fieferring to the drawing in detail, 1

indicates the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and 2 the branches of the manifold, leading to the cylinders of the engine, not shown. A casing mounted upon' specification of Letters Patent.

rammed oat. carafe.

\ 7 Application filed February 9,1917. Serial no. mesa.

being of substantially V-shape in cross sect1on, and provided in its 0 posite sides and near its bottom with air in ct holes 4:. It is also provided in planes adjacent the upper edges of said holes with cross pieces 5, and in one end wall with a hole 6. Both end walls are also provided in their upper edges with semi-circular openings 7 of substantially the same radius as the branches of or fasten .the cover and trough together.

The cover is provided with a semi-circular openin 13 which, conjointly with opening 9, snug y receives and accommodates the intake manifold l at the point thereof from where the branches 2 issue. The cover is also provided in its end walls with. semicircular openings 14: which, conjointly with openings 7, snu 1y receive and accommodate the branches 0 the intake manifold, it being noted in this connection that when thecasing is fitted upon the intake manifold, as explained, and the cover is latched to the trough, the former constitutes the means whereby the casing is supported upon .the manifold, and vthat'by merely disengaging the latches it is ossibleto instantly remove the attachment rom position. A

As a convenient means for generating heat within the casing, without any possibility of danger through the proximity of the carbureter, I provide a wicking torch, the same comprising a perforated cylinder 15 containing an absorbent material 16 and provided at one end with a handle 17. For convenience the handle is provided with an enlarged portion or collar 18, which forms a closure for the opening 6 when thewicking torch is in position, and said enlargement or collar is provided witha circumferential groove 19 to receive that portion'of the end wall of the trough which forms the lower edge of opening 6, so that through vibration of the engine or otherwise, there will be litthe danger of the wicking torch becoming accidentally dislodged from position, it being noted by reference to Flgs. 1 and 2 that said torch also rests upon the bridge or cross piece 5 so that when in operative posi-- tion, the torch shall lie above the plane of the openings or holes 4:.

When it is desired to heat the branches of the intake manifold preliminary to cranking the engine in cold weather, the operator can dip his torch into gasolene and then slip the torch through the opening 6 to the position shown in the drawing. A lighted match is then applied to the torch, and the flame therefrom is caused by the draft through openings 4 and 1O in the upper part of the cover to completely envelop the incased portions of the branches of the manifold and thus very quickly heat the same to a vaporizing temperature w1thout any danger through the proximity of the flame to the carbureter.

The heating of the branches of the intake manifold in close proximity to the discharge ends of said branches; that is, to the cylinders of the engine, insures the supply of a hot explosive mixture to the cylinders and therefore insures explosive action in the cylinders when the engine is cranked.

I have found by practical experience that the mere application of heat to the carbureter of a motor car engine is not effective for quick starting purposes in Very cold weather. Many methods are resorted to in the endeavor to raise the temperature of the gasolene in the carbureter, but by no method with which I am familiar can it be raised safely to a temperatur which insures complete vaporization without the possibility of condensation in its passage through the cold intake manifold to the cylinders of the engine. I have found, however, that by the application of heat to the intake manifold adjacent to the cylinders of the engine, that the gasolene and air drawn from the carbureter can be raised to such a temperature that the mixture will instantly explode by the production of-a spark, and that this is taeaiat true regardless of temperature and atmospheric conditions.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a heating attachment for internal combustion engines which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and which ob viously is susceptible of modification without departing from the principle and scope or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with the branches of an intake manifold for internalcombustion engmes, of a casing through which the said branches extend, provided with air-inlet openings below and air-exhaust openings above the said branches, and with an opening near its lower end, a-torch within the casing, having a handle extending through said last-named opening, and means for supporting the torch in a plane above that of the said air-inlet openings.

2. The combination with the branches of the intake manifold of an internal combust on engine, of a casing fitting u on and enveloping a part of said branc es, and comprising a lower or trough member and an upper or cover member hinged to the trough member; said members having means for fastening them in closed relation and also having draft openings below and above the plane of the branches of the intake manifold, and openings for the accommodation of the intake manifold at the point from which the branches issue, a torch removably projecting into the trough of the casing, and means for supporting the torch in a plane between that of the branches of the intake manifold and the draft openings through which air enters the casing.

- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROLO S. EWERS.

Witnesses:

ANNETTE Tnonrn, G. Y. Tnonrn. 

